Containers and method and apparatus for closing same



A. MAUSER Dec. 29, 1964 CONTAINERS AND METHOD. AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING SAME Filed April 18. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fla] Dec. 29, 1964 A. MAUSER CONTAINERS AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSING SAME Filed April 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

FIG. 7

United States Patent O 3,163,314 CONTAINERS AND METHGD AND APPARATU FGR CLGSING SAh/m Alfons Mauser, Goltsteinstrasse 239, Cologne- Bayenthal, Germany Filed Apr. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 274,031 Ciaims priority, application Germany Get. 3, 1962 11 Claims. (Cl. 220Z4) This invention relates to the packaging of fluent materials and more particularly, to a container for receiving such materials as well as a method and apparatus for closing the container.

Briefly stated, the container of this invention is preferably made of plastic although suitable materials such as metal may be employed and the container may be circular or rectangular in cross-section. In order to fill the container with the fluent material, the top wall thereof is provided with an elongated filling slot of oval formation and upstanding from the edges of the slot and diverging outwardly are opposed flanges which provide a funnel of oval formation. The top wall prior to filling of the container projects outwardly in the form of a dome of convex shape and knock out portions are provided in the top wall to facilitate dispensing of the contents of the container.

After filling of the container, the top wall is pushed inwardly of the container to provide a concave shape and this operation serves to move the flanges toward one another until the outer edges thereof contact in a substantially straight line and the flanges may be sealed together along these edges by a suitable adhesive, by welding or in any other desired manner to provide a liquid tight seal for the filling opening. In the closing of the container, the movement of the top wall from a convex to a concave shape in effect causes this wall to snap over dead center and it is to be noted that afterclosing of the container the top wall occupies a position inwardly of the upper edge of the side wall of the container a distance substan tially equal to the distance between the upper edge of the side wall of the container and the top wall when the same projected outwardly in a convex shape prior to filling.

Furthermore, this movement inwardly of the top wall results in disposing a substantial portion of the flanges surrounding the filling slot inwardly of the upper edge of the side wall of the container, thereby, materially reduc ing the portion of the flanges projecting above the upper edge of the sidewall of the container which materially facilitates stacking of the containers one upon the other since it is only necessary'to provide a recess in the bottom wall of the upper container to acommodate a relatively small portion of the height of the flanges.

Heretofore, containers of this general nature have been proposed and utilized, such containers including an elongated filling slot of oval formation in the top wall and with a slot defined by upstanding outwardly diverging flanges to provide a funnel of oval formation but in these prior art containers the top wall is flat at all times and after filling of the container, the same is closed by forcing the flanges toward one another and sealing along edges thereof. Considerable difliculty has been experienced in forcing the flanges together and holding them in position to accomplish a satisfactory seal along the edges thereof since the inherent resiliency of the material tends to move the flanges slightly apart and consequently, the same must be forced together during the entire sealing operation,

but more importantly, since the flanges are of more or less other in an attempt to form a straight'line along the edges Patented Dec. 29, 1964 to be sealed together. As a result of this excess material, bulges form in the flanges when moved toward one another thereby, making it extremely diflicult to bring the edges of the flanges together in a straight line to provide a satisfactory seal and frequently, with these prior art containers the edges of the flanges are only sealed together in spaced locations resulting in an imperfect seal and leakage of the contents of the container. Furthermore, in view of the imperfect contact between the edges of the flanges with this prior art container and further in view of the inherent resiliency of the material, the flanges tend to separate and destroy the seal which also results in leakage of the contents of the container.

It is also to be noted that in this prior art construction when moving the flanges toward one another, preparatory to scaling the edges thereof, it is necessary to bend such flanges where the same merge into the top wall and this often results in the occurrence of cracks at this point which of course renders the container useless. A further disadvantage of this type'of container in which the top wall is flat and the flanges surrounding the filling opening project upwardly therefrom is the fact that the height of such flanges is very appreciable and consequently, materially interferes with stacking of the containers since a recess or depression in a container to be stacked upon another container of this type must be relatively deep in order to accommodate the upstanding flanges with the result that the containers must be made appreciably larger in order to accommodate the required contents.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a container preferably formed entirely of plastic and in which the top wall prior to filling projects outwardly in a convex shape with such wall being provided with an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by upstanding outwardly diverging flanges of oval formation providing a funnel and in which, subsequent to filling of the container, the top wall is moved inwardly to provide a concave shape with the edges of the flanges in engagemetn in a straight line and sealed along such'edges to close the container.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container for fluent materials, the top Wall of the con-' tainer prior to filling being of convex shape and having an elongated filler slot or oval formation defined by upstanding outwardly diverging fla'nges providing a funnel of oval formation and in which subsequent to filling the top wall is moved inwardly of thecontainer to snap over dead center and provide a top wall of concave shape which results in movement of the flanges toward one another to bring the edges thereof into engagement along a straight line which may be sealed to close the container, the movement of top wall from aiconvex to a concave shape to bring the flanges into engagement precluding bending of the flanges where the same merge into the top wall. 1 i

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a container for fluent materials, such container prior to filling having a top wall of convex shape with an elongated filling slot of oval formation definedzby upstanding outwardly diverging flanges providing'afunnel of oval formation and in which subsequent to filling the top wall is moved inwardly of the container to provide a concave shape resulting in moving the flanges toward one another and bringing the edges thereof into engagement along a straight line, such edges being thereafter sealed by an adhesive, by welding or by any other suitable manner and in which the top wall is provided with one or more circular corrugations in order to facilitate the movement thereof from a convex to a concave shape.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container for fluent materials, such container prior tofilling having a top wall of convex shape with an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by upstanding outwardly diverging flanges to provide a funnel of oval formation and in which subsequent to filling of the container the top wall is moved inwardly to provide a concave. shape, such inward movement moving the flanges toward one another to bring the edges thereof into engagement along a straight line which is thereafter sealed, the inward movement of the top wall further'resulting in the flanges projectingrabove the upper edge of the side wall of the container a distance not greater than one-half of the height of the flanges, thereby facilitating stacking of the containers one upon the other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method of closing the container having a top wall'of convex shape with an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by opposed upstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel of oval formation, such method cornprising the steps of forcing the top wall inwardly to provide a concave shape thereby moving the flanges toward one another to bring the edges of the flanges into engagement in substantially a straight line and thereafter seal ing the edges of the flanges together to close the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the upper portion of a container constructed in accordance with this invention and prior to filling and closing of such container;

FIG. 2, a fragmentary sectional view showing in full A lines the position of the top wall and flanges defining a filling slot therein prior to filling of the container and showing in dotted lines the position of the top Wall and flanges subsequent to filling of the container;

FIG. 3, a top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. '4, a top plan View of a circular container incorporating the features of this invention;

FIG. 5, a fragmentary sectional view showing the container during the filling operation;

FIG. 6, a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 and showing an intermediate step in the closing of the container; and

7 FIG. 7, a fragmentary sectional view showing in dotted lines the top wall of the container and flanges defining the fillingslot therein prior to closing of the container and showing in full lines the position of the top wall and flanges after closing and sealing of the container.

With continued'reference to the drawings and particularly FIGS; 1-4, there is shown a container 1 which may be of rectangular configuration as shown in FIG. 1 or of circular configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and preferably the container is formed entirely of plastic although any other suitable material, such as metal may be employed The container 1 is provided with top wall 2 having an elongated filling slot 4 therein of oval formation and defining such slot are opposed upstanding diverging flanges 5 which serve to provide a funnel of oval formation. Also as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and -4, the top wall Zmay be provided with knock outs 6 which may be conveniently removed to facilitate dispensing of the con tents of the container 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, prior to filling of the container 1, the top wall 2 projects outwardly of the conta'iner'in a convex or dome shape and the top wall 2.1nay be provided with one or mor'ecircular concentric corrugations 3 for a purpose which will later appear.

With particular reference to'FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the c0n-.-

tainer 1rnay be filled by inserting a filling nozzle into the filling slot 4 in the top wall 2 and after completion of the filling operation, the nozzle 7 may be withdrawn from the filling slot 4 and the funnel provided'by the opposect the top wall 2 is pushed inwardly of the container 1 through the dead center position shown in FIG. 8 after which the top wall 2 either snaps into or is pushed to the concave position shown in FIG. 7. As clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inward movement of the top wall 2 from the convex shape shown in FIG. 5 to the concave shape shown in FIG. 7 results in movement of the outer edges 8 of the flanges 5 toward one another until the same engage along a substantially'straight line as clearly shown in FIG. 7. It is further to be noted that this movement of the edges 8 of the flanges 5 toward one another result not from a bending of the flanges 5 where the same merge into the top wall 2 but results solely from the inward movement of the top wall 2 from a convex to a concave shape. This, therefore, eliminates the possibility of cracks occurring in the top wall 2 at the point of juncture between the same and the flanges 5. Furthermore, since the flanges 5 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 provide a funnel of oval formation, the excess material resulting from such oval formation must be compensated for when bringing the edges 8 of' the flanges 5 into contact and this compensation is also accomplished by the inward movement of the top Wall 2 from a convex position as shown in FIG. 5 to a concave position as shown in FIG. '7. This results in the edges 8 engaging along a substantially straight line and precludes the formation of bulges or the like in the flanges 5 which would result in separation of the edges 8 at points therealong and it has been found that as a result of the structure of this invention and the method of utilizing the same to, close the container that the edges 8 ofv the flanges Sengage continuously in a substantially straight line and due to the inherent resiliency of thematerial are held together in this position Without any tendency to move apart.

The closing of the container is completed by sealing the contacting edges 8 of the flanges 5 together and such sealing may be accomplished by the use of any suitable adhesive or preferably by a suitable heat sealing or welding operation. There is thus provided a liquid tight seal along the contacting edges 8 of the flanges 5 and there is no tendency for this seal to fail by reason of the fact that as stated above the flanges 5 are constantly urged toward one another and into engagement along their edges 8 by the inherent resiliency of the material of the top wall 2 and the flanges 5. V

It is further to be noted that as clearly shown in FIG. 7,

one-half or less of the height of the flanges 5 thereby precluding the necessity for providing a larger recess or depression in the bottom wallwhichwould necessitate the use ofa larger container in order to accommodate the desired contents.

' paratus to be described below.

It will betobvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and thereforethe invention is upstanding divergingflanges 5 will serve to catch any drippage anddir'ect the same into the container 1; Thereafter, by means of an apparatus to be later described,

not limitedby that which is'shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in It will thus'be seen that there has been provideda' What is claimed is:

1. A container having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall prior to filling of said container having a convex shape and having an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by opposed upstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel of oval formation, said top wall after filling of said container being constructed to be pressed downwardly to a concaveshape with the edges of said flanges contacting in a substantially straight line and to be sealed together to close said container and with the upper edges of said flanges projecting above the upper edge of the side wall of said container at distance not greater than one-half the height of said flanges.

2. A container having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall prior to filling of said container having a convex shape and having an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by opposed upstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel of oval formation, said top wall after filling of said container being constructed to be pressed downwardly to a concave shape with the edges of said flanges contacting in a substantially straight line and to be sealed together to close said container.

3. A container having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall prior to filling of said container having a convex shape and having an elongated filling slot defined by opposed upstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel, said top wall after filling of said container being constructed to be pressed downwardly to a concave shape with the edges of said flanges contacting in a substantially straight line and to be sealed together to close said container.

4. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said top wall is provided with a plurality of concentric corrugations.

5. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said top wall is provided with at least one circular corrugation.

6. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said top wall is of resilient material and upon movement from a convex to a concave shape snaps over dead center with the concave wall disposed inwardly of the container substantially the same distance as the convex Wall was disposed outwardly of the container.

7. A container having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall prior to filling of said container having a convex shape and having an elongated filling slot of oval formation defined by opposed upstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel of oval formation, said top wall being so constructed that upon movement of said top wall inwardly it will assume a concave shape, and said flanges will move toward each with the outer edges engaging in a substantially straight line to facilitate sealing along said edges.

8. A container having top, bottom and side walls, said top wall prior to filling of said container having a convex shape and having an elongated filling slot defined by opposed npstanding diverging flanges providing a funnel, said top wall being so constructed that upon movement of said wall inwardly it will assume a concave shape, and said flanges will move toward each other with the outer edges engaging in a substantially straight line to facilitate sealing along said edges.

9. A container as defined in claim 7 in which said top wall is provided with a plurality of concentric corrugations.

10. A container as defined in claim 7 in which said top wall is provided with at least one circular corrugation.

11. A container as defined in claim 7 in which said top wall is of resilient material and upon the movement from a convex to a concave shape snaps over dead center with the concave wall disposed inwardly of, the container substantially the same distance as the convex wall was disposed outwardly of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,215 Weissenthanner Feb. 13, 1900 2,043,339 Strickler June 9, 1936 2,312,637 Fulenwider Mar. 2, 1943 7 2,685,158 Von Haase Aug. 3, 1954 2,754,865 Moore July 17, 1956 2,619,173 Klinger Dec. 8, 1959 2,916,860 Sanford Dec. 15, 1959 

1. A CONTAINER HAVING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS, SAID TOP WALL PRIOR TO FILLING OF SAID CONTAINER HAVING A CONVEX SHAPE AND HAVING AN ELONGATED FILLING SLOT OF OVAL FORMATION DEFINED BY OPPOSED UPSTANDING DIVERGING FLANGES PROVIDING A FUNNEL OF OVAL FORMATION, SAID TOP WALL AFTER FILLING OF SAID CONTAINER BEING CONSTRUCTED TO BE PRESSED DOWNWARDLY TO A CONCAVE SHAPE WITH THE EDGES OF SAID FLANGES CONTACTING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT LINE AND TO BE SEALED TOGETHER TO CLOSE SAID CONTAINER AND WITH THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID FLANGES PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER EDGE OF 